TroubleCAR
66
Trouble

2008 Toyota Rav4

Complaints: 574Avg mileage: 69,330 miSince: Jan 2008
2 deathsCrashFire32 injured

Problem Areas

Engine
137
Vehicle Speed Control
92
Suspension
79
Steering
69
Air Bags
50
Power Train
30
Unknown or Other
29
Electrical System
26
Seat Belts
18
Engine and Engine Cooling
16

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

STEERING
114,000 miMar 10, 2017GRANTS PASS, OR
1 deathCrash1 injured

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAD A WRECK MARCH 8, 2017 AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND LANDED IN SOME HEAVY BUSHES ON A OFF RAMP. WHEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH NECK PROBLEMS AND PUT A REPORT INTO MY INSURANCE. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE STEERING PROBLEM HAPPEN. ON I-5 58 SOUTH BOUND OFF RAMP NEAR INTERSECTION WITH NW MORGAN STREET, GRANTS PASS, OREGON HAPPEN SO FAST COULD NOT BREAK.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10,000 miFeb 17, 2010HAVERHILL, MA
1 deathCrash

MOTHER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN HER 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT AND ACCELERATED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. WITNESS STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS DRIVING NORMALLY PREVIOUS TO ACCIDENT. NO HEALTH ISSUES TO EXPLAIN EVENTS. *TR UPDATED 9/21/2011*CW

STEERING
60,000 miMay 16, 2015GRAHAM, WA
CrashFire

WE RECENTLY TOOK OUR RAV4 IN FOR RECALL WORK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO DO A COMPLIMENTARY INSPECTION ON MY RAV4. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT HAD NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE. NOW, THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS SQUEALING ON TIGHTER THAN REGULAR CORNER TURNING. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE DISTURBING, MORE CONSTANT COMPLIANT IS THAT THE POWER STEERING ON MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WILL FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN SUDDENLY FAIL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE MOST OF THE DRIVERS ON THE ROAD ARE USED TO POWER STEERING AND MAY NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THE POWER STEERING SHOULD SUDDENLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I AM NOT BLAMING THE DEALERSHIP OR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY GAVE US A HEADS-UP ON WHAT WE HAD NO IDEA WAS ABOUT TO BECOME A PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING PUMP PROBLEM IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, THE RAV4 IS A FAMILY CAR FOR THE MOST PART.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
19,700 miMar 28, 2010GREENWICH, CT
CrashFire

DRIVING 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 (19K MI) IN RAIN ON NY STATE HWY AT 30 MPH. DRIVER IN FRONT SLOWED. APPLIED BRAKES WHICH SOFTENED THEN WENT TO FLOOR. PUMPING DID NOT RETURN PRESSURE. HAND BRAKE SLOWED VEHICLE TO BELOW 15 MPH. CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLE AT @ 12 MPH. CAR BURST INTO FLAMES BENEATH AND CONSUMED VEHICLE WITHIN 12-14 MINUTES; *CN

POWER TRAIN
7,000 miMay 28, 2008PITTSBURGH, PA
CrashFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STRUCK A DEER WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE SOON BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE BEING RUPTURED. THE COOLANT DRIPPED ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TOYOTA IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS THE ONE WHO STRUCK THE DEER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

AIR BAGS
116,000 miAug 24, 2017POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED LEFT AND RIGHT BROKEN ARMS, STITCHES, AND A BROKEN ROTATOR CUFF. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED AT WEST CHESTER MEDICAL CENTER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. *LN *TR

SEAT BELTS
Jun 24, 2015HOLLY SPRINGS, NV
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 08/20/15 *BF

AIR BAGS
140,000 miFeb 27, 2015ST. GEORGE, SC
Crash1 injured

I'M TELLING WHAT HAPPENED WITH HELP OF PASSENGERS IN CAR WITH ME. I WAS THE DRIVER AND RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 3 INCH LACERATION TO BACK OF FOREHEAD WHICH REQUIRED 10 STAPLES. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE PASSENGERS STATE I PULLED OUT AND TRUCK WAS COMING AND IT HIT ME. MY CAR IS TOTALED. I WAS HIT ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE (THE WHOLE FRONT OF CAR WAS TORN OFF. THEY SAY WE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS HIT AGAIN BY TRUCK OVER THE BACK TIRE AND BACK END. WAS TOLD BY TROOPER AND TOW GUY THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IT WAS A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT. *TR

AIR BAGS
May 19, 2014RUNNEMEDE, NJ
Crash1 injured

SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE RECALL ON 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 (AIRBAG). *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

SERVICE BRAKES
40,000 miFeb 10, 2014ALEXANDRIA, VA
Crash1 injured

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER DROVE AT 5MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE CAUSED THE DRIVER LOSE CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF. THE DRIVER BODY SUFFERED BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOWYARD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. LI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
113,000 miJun 20, 2013CARLSBAD, CA
Crash2 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE, AS STOPPED TRAFFIC WAS AHEAD. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 07/16/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED MOST OF THE DATA WAS DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET AS FAR AS IMPLICATIONS CONCERNING THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE TIME OF IMPACT. SPECIFICALLY, THE VEHICLE SPEED SHOWED VERY LITTLE REDUCTION IN MPH UNTIL LESS THAN ONE SECOND BEFORE IMPACT, ASSUMING TIME 0 REPRESENTS IMPACT. THE DATA SUPPORTED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE TO HIS BRAKING WHEN HE BECAME AWARE OF APPARENTLY STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD AFTER HE HAD COMPLETED A LANE CHANGE. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR RATE AND ENGINE RPM DATA DID NOT SUPPORT THE COMMON EXPLANATION THAT HE WAS PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. HIS REACTION AT THE TIME WAS TO BRAKE AS A PANIC STOP, BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP BEFORE IMPACT OR AT LEAST GREATLY REDUCE HIS SPEED BEFORE IMPACT. UPDATED 10/21/13

AIR BAGS
100,000 miJun 11, 2013GEORGETOWN, TX
Crash1 injured

TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY, I CAME TO A STOP, THE SUV BEHIND ME DID NOT REALIZE WE WERE STOPPED. HE HIT ME AT ALMOST FULL SPEED, THIS PUSHED ME INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME, AND THEM INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM. BASICALLY A 4 CAR PILE UP, THE CAR THAT HIT ME AND THE CAR I WAS PUSHED INTO BOTH BLEW THEIR AIR BAGS. I WAS HIT THE HARDEST AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT BLOW, I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP TWO WEEKS BEFORE FOR WARRANTY WORK AND RECALLS, NOTHING WAS EVER SAID ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M NOT SURE WHY MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
33,000 miMay 17, 2012NEW CASTLE, PA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED DOWN A HILL AND CROSSED INTO A PATCH OF LARGE ROCKS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES WHEN HER HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE FAILURE WOULD BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000. UPDATED 06/12/12*LJ UPDATED 06/13/12

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
80,000 miDec 24, 2011PALM HARBOR, FL
Crash2 injured

WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A SIGNAL. HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ENGINE SURGED TO APPROX 6500 RPM PLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I CLIMBED ON THE OTHER VEHICLE. CAR WOULD NOT STOP MOVING UNTIL I TURNED AND PULLED OUT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. REPORTED INCIDENT TO TARPON CITY OFFICER, WHILE THE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS WRITTEN UP. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE PRETTY BANGED UP. DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER VEHICLE REPORTED INJURIES. THE RAV WAS NOT DRIVABLE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SUNTOYOTA FOR REPAIRS. REPORTED INCIDENT TO SUN TOYOTA SERVICE AND BODY SHOP DEC 22, THEY ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CALLED TOYOTA 800 331-4331 CASE #[XXX], 12/22/11 PROMISED TO CALL BACK IN 24 HRS CASE WORKER [XXX]. TALKED TO [XXX] AT TOYOTA HEADQUARTER IN CALIFORNIA. STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE NOW. I CAN'T SELL IT IN GOOD FAITH, BECAUSE OF THE PRODUCT LIABILITY. I AM THANKFUL THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE TARPON SPRINGS CHRISTMAS PARADE WAS IN PROGRESS AND THERE WERE A LEAST A DOZEN KIDS IN THE CROSSWALK IN FRONT OF US. WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT MY RAV WOULD HAVE GIVEN SOME PARENTS IF MY CAR HAD HIT THESE KIDS. JUST AN FYI. I HAD A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD FOR 35 YEARS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. THANK YOU TOYOTA! TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAN UP BEFORE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED. I FORGOT THIS IS BIG CORPORATION, THEY DON'T CARE, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T EFFECT THEIR BOTTOM LINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
28,400 miJul 21, 2010ORLANDO, FL
Crash1 injured

DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 LIMITED, 6 CYL., PURCHASED NEW, NO PRIOR ISSUES, APPROXIMATELY 28,400 MILES, WHEN TRAFFIC BEGAN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED BRAKES WITHOUT RESPONSE. PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, STANDING ON THE BRAKES, ABS, WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE AND COLLIDING INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO ER. OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED NO INJURIES. VIN NUMBER BEGINNING WITH "J". COLLISION SHOP REPORTS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
14,415 miJun 16, 2010HARRINGTON PARK, NJ
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING, WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND STEERED INTO A CURB IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND INSTEAD ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB, INTO A FENCE AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN CRASHING INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FOOT AND CRUSHED DENTURES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS DECLARED TOTALLED. THIS WAS NOT THE CONTACT'S FIRST INSTANCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION . SHE WAS ADVISED BY HER DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,415.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38,000 miMar 11, 2010HATFIELD, PA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE HER VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND PROCEEDED ONTO A NEARBY CURB, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A BRICK BUILDING. THE ENGINE CONTINUED IDLING AS THE PASSENGER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARK POSITION AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ALSO GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AS IF IT WANTED TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3,000 miMar 9, 2010SPOKANE, WA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HALT AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH SUCH FORCE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE THAT THE ACTUAL BRAKE PEDAL FRACTURED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND OCCUPANTS FROM THE FOREGOING VEHICLE SUFFERED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS DUE TO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE. ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CURRENTLY, SHE WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,500.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9,500 miMar 2, 2010SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Crash3 injured

ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29TH, 2010, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 WHEN THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AT SLOWING THE VEHICLE AS SHE APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. ALTHOUGH SHE STOOD ON THE BRAKES SHE LEFT NO SKID MARKS BEFORE STOPPING IN THE INTERSECTION AS SHE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE WHO HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE CAR HAD SLOWED SUFFICIENTLY THAT THERE WAS NO RELEASE OF THE AIR BAGS. SHE HAS OPERATED A CAR FOR 40 YEARS WITH OUT A MOVING VIOLATION, THE WEATHER WAS BRIGHT AND SUNNY AND THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. IT WAS A FAMILIAR INTERSECTION AND SHE HAD STOPPED AT THE LIGHT ONE BLOCK AWAY. EARLIER IN THE DAY SHE HAD PRACTICED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO HELP HER IN THIS SITUATION. *TR

STEERING
18,561 miFeb 22, 2010WOODSIDE, NY
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE DOWN AS HE TRIED TO DEPRESS IT AND HE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. HE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED AT THE BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE BODY SHOP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,561.

Other Rav4 Years

Other Toyota Models